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Released June 2012 / Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost / Up to 1 GB GDDR5 Video RAM

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Display issues after doing some cleaning and upgrades 2012 MBP15 A1286

So I bought a MacBook Pro 15” mid 2012 (A1286) recently with the idea to upgrade a lot of the parts to make it more powerful.

The model I ended up buying was the highest spec CPU 2.7 GHz i7-3820QM and the higher resolution 1680 x 1050 display. Directly after these upgrades I have observed display issues. The colours are off (a little psychedelic) and the screen looks much more pixelated in general.

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See photos: ++http://bit.ly/mbp-a1286-photos++

Steps:

  • Take off screws and back plate
  • Disconnected battery
  • Swapped SSD in 2.5" HD slot
  • Removed fans
  • Removed 11 motherboard connections
  • Removed 7 x T6 screws holding motherboard
  • Lifted motherboard up (left side first)
  • Disconnected DC IN circuit
  • Removed screws holding heat sink
  • Removed heat sink
  • Cleaned off thermal compound with dry cloth
  • Applied new thermal compound
  • Put everything back together in reverse order

After performing these steps is when the display issues began. I have tested and output to an external monitor is 100% fine. Does this mean the GPU is fine? And by extension isolate the problem to the LCD and/or LVDS cable? I have ordered a replacement LVDS cable and will try swapping for the new one.

Notes:

  • There was a LOT of thermal paste (see photos) on the CPU and GPU when I removed the heat sink
  • Tried to swap CD drive for 2.5" HD adapter but could not get it out even after removing screws
  • Previous to this I swapped the onboard 16GB of 1333MHz DDR3 RAM for 16GB of 1600MHz, but the system had been working fine afterwards up until the above

Any advice at all would be very welcomed.

Thanks in advance,

Cillian

Update (10/12/2019)

I cleaned again as you suggested and I think this time I got it a lot cleaner!

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https://photos.app.goo.gl/MMZXU1KHC5fgfK...

But I still had the psychedelic screen.

However I was not able to lift the black plastic insulator as you suggested. Is there a way to ensure getting it on and off again safely? Or possible to buy a replacement as a backup?

I'm gonna give it another clean (looking at zoomed in image I think I can do better) before attempting to replace LVDS cable. Is this a sane next step in your opinion?

Thanks in advance!

Update (10/31/2019)

So turns out there was a lot of thermal paste residue underneath the black plastic GPU insulator:

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https://photos.app.goo.gl/DH36Du2RofMiPy...

After a full and very thorough clean:

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https://photos.app.goo.gl/6TVLEktHeBZ4h6...

I still had the same issue. You can see some images of the LVDS cable and motherboard connections:

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http://bit.ly/mbp-a1286-photos

I updated to latest MacOS, and even tried booting into Ubuntu via a live USB (playing idea that it might be software), but still the issue remains.

My current options are:

(1) Replace LVDS cable (tricky since only have cable not display assembly).

(2) Pay €70 for a diagnostic at an Apple specialist repair shop.

(3) Take a hit, and sell on as 'not working fully' on eBay.

Any further thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Update (09/12/2019)

Yes the problem again does not show on an external display:

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https://photos.app.goo.gl/WNqwDW7pYoTCad...

Is there any way to isolate the problem to either LVDS cable or display? I guess I would need another display assembly to easily test that?

So my next (and possibly last step) will be to swap existing LVDS cable for new one I have purchased. Thanks again for all your advice.

Update (01/07/2020)

I swapped the LVDS cable - issue still present.

Now I think the issue has to be display itself, something on motherboard, or damaged display socket (LVDS) on the motherboard.

Logical next step would be testing out a working display - not sure how feasible this will be!

If I fork out the money for a new display/another MacBook, and it turns out to be GPU/motherboard, it will be wasted.

Any ideas for finding a working display assembly without buying one? Or anything else more sensible to do next?

Answer this question I have this problem too

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3 Comments

@mylsey4thewin - The insulator plate is brittle so you do need to be careful in lifting it. I found someone selling them years ago and I only have two left after needing to replace it after others had broken it ;-{

Originally, they where lightly tacked down with some heat gun glue. The best way to pull it off is using a heat gun starting on one side and carefully lifting it. Don't exceed 100º C

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If the external is still showing a clean image I would just replace the display at this point. Here's a good source as iFixit is out of stock TheBookYard UK - MacBook Pro Unibody 15" Mid 2012 Displays

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Thanks again for your continued advice!

Might have to look to source a display assembly from eBay as can't find any stores (your link either) with the high resolution options in stock.

Will update here when I find one and replace/find out (finally) what the exact problem was.

Thanks again!

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Sad to say you’ll need to go back in and do a bit more cleaning of the old thermal paste. You’ll need to clean up the areas I’ve marked here in Purple I’m thinking the old paste is messing you up. Other than the RAM and SSD did you switch out the display its self?

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Besides wiping off the bulk of the paste you need to use a solvent with cotton swabs to clean off the paste thats caught between the SMD chips on the chip carrier of the CPU. Use extreme care! As you can lift these tiny components which will not be able to replaced. For the GPU you’ll need to carefully lift the black plastic insulator plate to clean under it as well. I suspect some of the thermal paste got pushed down underneath it.

Clearly the person who has the system last went overboard with the thermal paste. You likewise over did it too!

You only need a thin coating across the chips surface so the heat is transferred to the heat sink. Anything that goes over the edge is wasteful and can create problems! Depending on paste it can be conductive or create a capacitive load on the lines.

I personally use a loadable spray can which has a snorkel tube. I load it with the solvent I need and using a compressor charge it with air. I prefer this than using the spray cleaners as I can make sure I’m using a clean solvent. I do this outside so the fumes are not hanging around where I work. This is a lot safer than using a cotton swab and can get underneath the chips as well.

So get all of the old thermal paste out of the nooks and crannies of the SMT devices on the CPU and clean under the plastic insulator of the GPU. Apply a lot less thermal paste so you just cover the chip and you want to use a dot or line (depending on the shape of the chip) so you don’t exceed the chips surface but enough to get to the corners. You may need to try it a few times to get it just right!

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6 Comments:

Firstly, thanks for all the information.

No I only swapped the SSD and RAM, it's still the same display, which was working perfectly before the changes.

I will make sure the SMT devices on the CPU and beneath the GPU are completely clean.

So you think that the excess thermal paste/residue could be causing the issues? If more cleaning solves the issue, I will be really happy! I will try the cleaning first before I attempt to swap out the LVDS cable.

I will update here when I have more information.

Thanks again

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Can't say for sure, it does sound a signal leakage issue.

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OK, let's see if an external monitor still shows the problem. If it does then the GPU logic has an issue. If not the display its self or the LVDS cable has a problem.

I would hold off paying anyone to tell you what you can do your self here. While repairing the system may still be a reach price wise if the logic board is bad its still possible the LVDS cable is the issue. It could be damaged where it goes into the clutch cover via the hollow hinge.

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So up until the most recent cleaning I tested with external display afterwards each time, and it was NOT showing any signs of the issue!

I was so annoyed after the results of the last cleaning, that I never bothered/forgot to check with external monitor. I will do this ASAP and update.

Thanks

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@mylsey4thewin - Did everything work out?

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Cillian Myles will be eternally grateful.
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